MPS-Newsflash 24 December 2019

Published: 24 December 2019

*|MC:SUBJECT|**|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*

We wish you a sustainable 2020!

2019 has simply flown by. Christmas is upon us and 2020 is just around the corner. This is a period for reflection and looking ahead. Here at MPS, we have had a very busy and intense year. It has been a good year in which we were able to continue our growth and anticipate our future and market developments.

We expect a lot of action in our sector and therefore also at MPS. The launch of our updated main product MPS-ABC, which focuses on user-friendliness, is very important to us. But we are also working hard on optimising our services, developing new products such as footprint calculation, and the new MPS and MPS-ECAS websites will soon be launched. In short, 2020 promises to be another great year.

On behalf of the board, the management and all MPS employees, we thank you for your trust and the pleasant cooperation.
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a healthy and sustainable New Year.

Yolande van den Boom (CEO MPS)

Yolande van den Boom (CEO MPS)

International MPS Customer Panel at IPM Essen

The MPS customer panel aims to jointly discuss current and future sustainability issues. MPS facilitates the dialogue about sustainability by being and staying in contact with growers, traders and retailers, and other stakeholders. We also ask for feedback to keep improving our products and services. During the IPM in Essen we would like to present the updated MPS-ABC programme to you. In addition, informing and consulting international clients and stakeholders regarding HortiFootprint and the MPS-LCA (Life Cycle Analysis) module is of great importance to us.

Agenda:
- Presentation of the updated MPS-ABC registration system and certification scheme
- Developments related to HortiFootprint (purpose, method and result)
- Correlation between the MPS-LCA module and MPS-ABC registration and certification
- Brainstorm session: what is the best way to present the data from the footprint calculation?

What exactly is going to change with regard to MPS-ABC? We have published 4 videos on our Youtube channel. Watch the episode on the most important changes within MPS-ABC registration below.

Featured Company: Vilosa

The way Vilosa sees it, sustainability will become an inevitable standard. They don’t cling to traditional cultivation methods and are always trying out new ones. Two years ago, the Kalanchoe growers Rene van Dop, Fred van Luijk and Nick Groenewegen decided to merge their companies under the name Vilosa. Now they produce around 14 million plants sustainably. “Growing the plants sustainably is our top priority,” says Van Dop, CEO at Vilosa.

Rene van Dop

“About eleven years ago we started with MPS-ABC. You need to keep track of your consumption somehow, and ABC is a great tool for that. It feels like a kind of foundation on which you can build and develop your activities,” says Van Dop. The company has also obtained MPS-GAP, MPS-SQ and ProductProof certifications since then. In addition, the company has received certificates from MPS-ECAS, namely Groen Label Kas and GRASP, and it is PlanetProof certified. “Actually, I consider MPS-GAP and MPS-SQ as a kind of check-list. We already had the foundation, but with MPS-SQ you also ensure that all the job descriptions are correct.”

Investing in the future
The company has already held the MPS-A score for a long time, which means that its production is sustainable in the areas of crop protection agents, fertilisers, waste and energy. “I believe that sustainability is becoming the standard and we are now responding to that. We try to recycle as much as possible and we use more and more biological alternatives,” Van Dop says. “We don’t cling to specific cultivation methods but look for other possibilities.”

In the framework of ‘Het Nieuwe Telen’ (The New Cultivation: energy efficient cultivation with optimal production) Vilosa is testing the Air Mixer in one of the nurseries to control moisture management. The system brings dry air from outside into the greenhouse, which allows the screen to remain closed. This prevents light emissions and ensures better climate control. Van Dop: “This is a new form of cultivation that allows us to take a major step towards further sustainability. We’re hoping to be able to equip all the nurseries with the Air Mixer in the future.”

Recycling
Plastic is a significant subject of discussion within the company. The social debate around plastic has erupted and consumers don’t see plastic as sustainable. According to Van Dop, this is not always justified. “I don’t think plastic is a bad product, as long as the recycling chain is a closed loop to the greatest extent possible. Our trays are made of 99% recycled plastic, as are the pots we use. The best solution in terms of plastic, is to make the chain circular. That would make it a great product and no raw materials are wasted.”

Sustainability is of paramount importance to the company, which is supported by the fact that two of the three nurseries are connected to geothermal wells. Van Dop: “Although that doesn’t make the production any less expensive for us, it does mean we use less gas. I think everyone will need to stop using gas in due course. At the same time, we’re winning in terms of sustainability and that’s becoming increasingly important. Moreover, I think we have to invest in a sustainable future now.”

Exhibition calendar

In the coming months, you will find us at various trade fairs.
The schedule below shows where we hope to discuss sustainability in the ornamental horticulture sector with you.

MPS has compiled this newsletter with great care.
MPS is not liable for any consequences – such as any losses incurred or any loss of profit – arising from action undertaken in response to this newsletter.

MPS-Newsflash November 2019

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important, and this also applies to the horticultural sector. The market and society are changing, and so is MPS.

This means the MPS-ABC certification requirements will have to be amended as well. At the end of this year, the updated MPS-ABC certification scheme will be published on our website, and it will take effect at the end of 2020. Our participants will be kept informed via different communication channels. We will also explain everything in a five-part video series. Part 1 is included in this MPS Newsflash!

MPS participants win Dutch Flower Awards 2019

Ter Laak Orchids and Van der Lugt Lisianthus received the Dutch Flower Awards at the Royal FloraHolland (RFH) Trade Fair. The theme of these awards was “A Sustainable Relationship”. Ter Laak Orchids took home the prize in the “Plants” category, and Van der Lugt Lisianthus was the recipient of the “Cut Flowers” award.

Three companies were awarded a certificate by MPS and MPS-ECAS at the International Floriculture Trade Fair (IFTF) and the Royal FloraHolland (RFH) Trade Fair. At the RFH Trade Fair, Ruud van den Akker, auditor at MPS-ECAS, awarded the GLOBALG.A.P. Chain of Custody certificate to Colours of Nature. This growers’ association claims to produce the most environmentally friendly gerberas in the world.

Clockwise: Agrita, Soex Flora and Colours of Nature

Soex Flora, a cut flower producer, received the MPS-GAP certificate at the IFTF, making it the first India-based company to achieve this. Finally, Raymond Scheepens, commercial manager at MPS, brought great joy to Agrita S.A. by handing them their MPS-ABC certificate at the RFH Trade Fair. The propagation company has registered 13 periods and successfully concluded the initial audit. It therefore receives its first qualification, which is no less than an A+. The Costa Rican nursery grows starting material for pot plant growers and aims to respond to customer demands by means of sustainable cultivation. Congratulations on obtaining your certificate!

Featured Company: Sher Ethiopia

It’s the largest rose grower in the world, processing three million sustainably grown roses every day. Located in Ziway, Ethiopia, Sher Ethiopia covers an area the size of 1,200 football fields. The company has been working with the Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI) to make its operations even more sustainable. “We want to be front runners in terms of sustainability, and collaboration is a big part of that”, says Franks Kuipers, advisor at Sher Ethiopia.

Working with companies such as MPS and Sher Ethiopia, the FSI is well on its way towards 'FSI 2020'. Its aim is to see ninety percent of all flowers and plants produced sustainably by this milestone year. A key part of this is 'Credible Record Keeping', which FSI uses to make the environmental impact of aspects such as crop protection products transparent and to reduce their use. Credible Record Keeping is also a fundamental requirement of FSI post-2020, which is met by participants with an MPS-ABC certificate. Sher Ethiopia has MPS-A status and has also been MPS-GAP and MPS-SQ certified for almost ten years.

Fish prove the point
“We owe our long-standing MPS-A ratings to the fact that we are committed to growing as naturally as possible. We use very few crop protection products and as many biological controls as we can,” Kuipers says. “Sustainability is becoming increasingly important, so you need to make that switch if you want to retain your market share. In addition to working with FSI, we have also signed the IRBC agreement, which contains arrangements promoting a more responsible approach to the international production of ornamental crops. We believe that joint arrangements will contribute to achieving a sustainable ornamental horticulture chain.”

One of the innovations that helps make the production of roses more sustainable is the ‘wetlands’ system. “This is a water system that has been specially designed by Wageningen University and Research (WUR) for reusing water.” Water that is normally flushed down the drain is purified by the roots of reeds and ultimately ends up in a pool that is populated by fish: living proof that the water is clean. Kuipers: “We use the water purified by the wetlands to water the roses. These wetlands also prevent any contaminated water from flowing into the surrounding area.” The environment is a priority for Sher Ethiopia anyway, says Leen van Driel, auditor at MPS-ECAS. “I visited them to carry out an audit in August this year. They have planted lots of trees, and when you walk through their grounds you are struck by how green it is.”

Sleeping, playing football, packing
Sher Ethiopia grows seventy different varieties of roses. As Kuipers explains, “Germans have a completely different taste in roses from Danes, for example.” But the company’s activities in Ethiopia are not limited to growing roses. In 2008 they built a sports complex for the people of Ziway. “Lots of our packers play football in the afternoon, then start their packing shift and go to bed after that. There are dozens of teams, and we even have an internal competition.”

Operating in Ethiopia also raises various issues for Sher Ethiopia. “There is an ongoing debate about the living wage. We believe that social facilities are at least as important. We have, for example, a hospital, a church and a school on our grounds, all of which can also be attended by people who don’t work for us. We started small with the school, but now it has more than 6,000 pupils. Lessons are free and are taught by Ethiopian teachers,” Kuipers says. “We believe that the more you put in, the more you get out. After all, it’s important to look after your people.”

Amendment of general terms and conditions and certification rules

To make things as easy as possible for you as the customer, we have simplified our certification rules and our general terms and conditions. All the amendments have been approved by our Board of Experts. This means the following for you:

• As of 1 January 2020, all existing certification agreements will be converted into agreements for an indefinite period of time. From that date, all new customers will also receive an agreement for an indefinite period of time. These agreements can be cancelled with a period of notice of at least two full months before the end of the current calendar year.
• The stipulation that in some certification schemes the owner of the relevant certification scheme can access audit reports has now been integrally included in the certification rules of MPS-ECAS.
• It has been clarified when exactly an agreement is concluded and when it will take effect.
You can consult all documents on our website. The new terms and conditions and documents take effect on 1 January 2020.

Should you have any further questions about the above, please contact MPS-Service & Support via +31(0)174 615 715 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you have any questions about any of the topics in this Newsflash, please contact Service & Support.

MPS has compiled this newsletter with great care.
MPS is not liable for any consequences – such as any losses incurred or any loss of profit – arising from action undertaken in response to this newsletter.

MPS-Newsflash October 2019

Published: 01 October 2019

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*

Working together towards sustainability

MPS aims to help improve sustainability in the global flowers and ornamentals sector through means such as reducing the environmental impact of crop protection products throughout the chain. We are working together with numerous different parties to realise this ambition.

The international FSI sustainability network is growing rapidly, as are other national and international sustainability initiatives such as IMVO, aided significantly by the government. Increasing numbers of partners throughout the flowers and ornamentals chain are also joining in as they recognise the power inherent in joining forces to make progress. MPS is supporting the sector’s ambitions by providing knowledge and tools.

This issue of MPS NewsFlash contains more information about our collaboration with FSI. We’ll also take a look at the upcoming innovations in our MPS-ABC programme and the updated usage registration.

Yolande van den Boom, CEO MPS Group

FSI Chain Transparency Project

The MPS-NewsFlash editors interviewed two members of the MPS project team about the role of MPS and the project’s objective.

FSI and MPS The Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI) is a sustainability network organisation consisting of various national and international parties (agriculturalists, growers, trade companies, retailers, sector organisations and the owners of certification schemes) and NGOs working together towards a more sustainable flowers and ornamentals sector. MPS is involved in this as part of its ambition to help reduce environmental impact throughout the chain. FSI also unites parties in a joint effort to make sustainability efforts more transparent. Harold Beek, Deputy Director at MPS: “One of FSI’s greatest achievements is the collaboration among parties in the chain. The parties are continually engaging with one another in various groups and combinations to discuss and accelerate progress.” FSI’s main goal is to ensure that 90% of all products traded by its members are purchased and traded sustainably by 2020.

Transparency regarding the use of substances is a central focus of the Chain Transparency project that MPS has been carrying out together with FSI since 2017. “MPS is working on a number of issues that are part of the larger context of sustainability instruments,” says Remco Jansen, Commercial Manager at MPS. Examples include innovative tools and certification programmes.

An important goal of the project is to reduce total environmental impact. “We will achieve this through intensive collaboration with knowledge institutes such as Proeftuin Zwaagdijk and by running an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) project with Koppert Biologicals, for example,” says Beek. “The results will increase our knowledge and enable organisations like MPS to develop solutions.”

MPS develops tools based on its collaborations with stakeholders and contributions to research projects such as Chain Transparency. This includes tools that make sustainability efforts measurable (for example, the Environmental Impact Indicator for Crop Protection Products; MPS-MIND) and management tools. Beek: One example of a management tool is the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy tool that we are involved in developing together with Club van 100 and PPS TKI. We are also collaboratively developing a method of making IPM measurable. The knowledge that we gain from other projects, such as the Chain Transparency project, is also very useful. By making connections between these activities, we’re able to devise sustainability solutions, such as improving MPS-MIND.”

“The market is showing a shift at the macro level towards instruments that help to improve sustainability. The MPS certification programmes and tools are a means of making sustainability efforts transparent and reliable. So you’ve got everything from pure certification to the measurement of sustainability efforts,” says Remco Jansen.

The Chain Transparency project is focusing on monitoring the chains for seven flowers and ornamentals products (Chrysanthemum, Kalanchoe, Anthurium, potted Phaelonopsis, Lavender, Miltonia and Dendrobium) for a period of three years. This entails following the entire chain from starting materials to finished products, with samples being taken at various stages in the chain. These will test cuttings, rooting and cultivation, with the aim of gaining insight into environmental impact throughout the chain, particularly with respect to crop protection products. According to Beek, greater knowledge and understanding is necessary to enable a reduction in the use of these substances and the resulting residues, and to ensure that market requirements are met. The entire chain is being investigated, which can mean that even if a greater quantity of crop protection products is used in one part of the chain, there is a net reduction in the total amount used throughout the chain.

Jansen adds: “In addition to developing our knowledge, we also need to create awareness. The Chain Transparency project focuses mainly on continents such as Africa and Central America, because these regions are the source of much of the cutting material used in the sector. Growers of the end products have to realise that they can’t work in isolation; instead, they’re dealing with both indirect influences and chain influences. This highlights the importance of collaboration!”

The visit was part of the Chain Transparency project, which is investigating sustainability solutions in the chain. Local growers, exporters and relevant stakeholders were also informed about market developments, as well as about global developments and requirements relating to sustainability.

The following interview with Marcel Zandvliet (Director Marketing/CSR, Dutch Flower Group) was screened during the meetings in Central America.

Visits to growers in Costa Rica, Guatemala and Nicaragua were part of the trip. During these visits, we were able to witness the efforts made by growers to meet the FSI ambitions and the certification requirements that play a role in the market. We also found out about the work they are doing to further improve their ecological footprint, their qualifications for MPS-ABC, and towards meeting the requirements of programmes such as MPS-GAP. Examples of this work are the installation of solar panels, rainwater collection initiatives, and the installation of biobeds.

Antigua Flowers/Fides Guatemala

Las Limas, Ball Horticultural

In collaboration with FSI and local partners, seminars were organised in both Costa Rica and Guatemala to inform local growers about joint projects currently under way. In Costa Rica, the seminar was held at Orange Plaza in collaboration with the Dutch Embassy in San Jose. The seminar in Guatemala was organised in partnership with Agexport. Both seminars were attended by more than 35 growers. FSI and MPS made a presentation, which was followed by an energetic discussion on three themes: traceability, customer demand and the use of crop protection products. The growers received valuable information which will be used in the Chain Transparency project.

Salon du Végétal in NantesRound table meeting about the acceptance of IPM in the market

During Salon du Végétal, MPS and Excellence Végétale/VAL’HOR organised a meeting about the acceptance of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) by the market. Attendees included representatives from the French Ministry of Agriculture and the retail and trade sectors, as well as growers. In essence, the meeting discussed the problem of purchasers rejecting ‘poor quality’ products, for example due to the presence of traces of useful insects. The conclusion reached during the meeting was that research needs to be done to find out the ‘damage threshold’ that would be acceptable to consumers. Training and improved communication relating to IPM are also necessary.

Marie-Françoise PetitjeanCoordinator, MPS France

MPS present at 'Good Agricultural Practices' meeting

Last week, there was a meeting on ‘Good Agricultural Practices’ in Valencia (Spain). This was initiated by ASFPlant, Valencia’s association of pot plant producers.

During the morning, attendees discussed good agricultural and hygienic practices in the flowers and ornamentals sector, followed by a session on the vital importance of well-organised crop registration. In the afternoon, René Rombouts (Coordinator, MPS Spain and Portugal, see photo) gave a presentation on the differences between MPS-GAP and GLOBALG.A.P., in which he made reference to the FSI2020 requirements and other related matters.

The chain parties that endorse the FSI2020 objectives expect growers to comply with credible record-keeping from 2021 onwards. This criterion is already effectively covered by MPS-ABC certification. There is a clear increase in the number of companies in the Spanish flowers and ornamentals industry that hold MPS-ABC and MPS-GAP certification, with the current total being 135 companies.

MPS-ABC programme changes and updated usage registration

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important, including in the horticulture sector. Society and the market are changing, and MPS is following suit.

This means that there will be changes to the MPS-ABC certification programme. We’ll publish the updated MPS-ABC Certification Scheme on our website at the end of 2019, and the new scheme will come into effect at the end of 2020. The registration environment will be updated as a result of these changes, and participants will be transferred in stages, commencing early in 2020. MPS-ABC participants have already been informed about the upcoming changes.

Overview of the most significant changes: - Mandatory registration per application of plant protection products and fertilisers. - Tighter requirements for the purchase of starting materials and additional purchasing, in order to further close the chain. - Retroactive registration will become more difficult. - Legal authorisation of plant protection products will be more actively checked on a per country basis.

Participants will be kept informed via the MPS-Newsflash and e-mail messages.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact: Service & SupportT +31 (0)174 615 715EThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you have any questions about any of the topics in this Newsflash, please contact Service & Support.

MPS has compiled this newsletter with great care. MPS is not liable for any consequences – such as any losses incurred or any loss of profit – arising from action undertaken in response to this newsletter.

MPS-Newsflash August 2019

Published: 30 August 2019

*|MC:SUBJECT|**|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*

MPS-ABC, MPS-GAP and MPS-SQ for Guatemalan grower

Three MPS certificates in a row: a fantastic achievement that Ter Laak Americas can proudly share with its customers. At the end of June, the orchid nursery in Jalapa, Guatemala was the first company of its kind in Central and South America to receive not only the MPS-ABC certificate, but also the MPS-GAP and MPS-SQ certificates. Obtaining all these certificates is a significant challenge for growers in this region. Pedro Luna, manager of Ter Laak Americas, is very proud of the result. “We strongly believe that sustainability is the future for us all.”

Ter Laak Americas was established in 2015, when three partners joined forces to start a one-hectare orchid nursery to grow flowering plants for the local market and young plants for the export market. One of the partners is Ter Laak Orchids, a Dutch company that already holds MPS-ABC, MPS-GAP and MPS-SQ certificates and participates in the MPS-ProductProof scheme. Luna: “That helped us to meet the criteria, since we were already doing many of the things that the scheme requires.” The MPS-GAP certificate covers traceability, sustainability, safety and hygiene, while MPS-SQ focuses on proper working conditions.

Profitable and sustainable
The greenhouse in Jalapa features innovations such as three-layered plastic walls that reduce energy consumption, organic waste composting, energy and shadow-generating screens and rainwater collection. “Our strategy is to be both profitable and sustainable, while providing our employees with the pleasant working environment they deserve,” says Luna. Local employees are the driving force behind the company. “We have 25 permanent employees, and we provide them with meals during the breaks. Any leftovers are fed to the pigs and sheep.”

Sustainable enterprise is becoming increasingly important in Central and South America. Arthij van de Veer, MPS coordinator in North and Central America explains: “This is due to growing awareness among both entrepreneurs and their customers. Customers are making more demands with respect to sustainability, so growers are responding by exploring the possibilities. It’s a gradual process, but if you compare today’s situation with how things were a decade ago, you can see a definite increase in awareness.”

Respect for the environment and human rights
Luna is extremely proud of the three MPS certificates. “We can now demonstrate to our customers that our orchids are a product of sustainable cultivation practices, and that we respect human rights. We hope to inspire other growers to increase the sustainability of their enterprises too.” What’s more, Luna concludes: “Certification helps you to monitor your production processes. The more data you gather, the greater your understanding will be, and the better you’ll be able to perform as a company.”

MPS organizes two meetings in Central America, in collaboration with FSI2020. The central topic of these meetings is how current market developments influence management.

The following topics will also be discussed:

the vision of Dutch Flower Group and Koppert Biological Systems on sustainability and developments within FSI;

update on the project ‘Chain Transparency’ (more about this in the next MPS-Newsflash as well);

traceability throughout the whole chain;

how consumer's demands influence the production chain;

deployment of IPM (Integrated Pest Management).

If you operate in Central America and are interested in attending one of these meetings, then please contact:
Remco Jansen, Commercial ManagerT +31 (0) 6 51 27 40 01EThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Transforming local green waste into sustainable energy for growers

Local green waste that would otherwise leave the province is being converted into sustainable energy in a biomass plant by three MPS-ECAS certified growers. ‘With the biomass plant, we’re reducing gas consumption and CO2 emissions and using sustainable CO2 to let the plants grow better,’ explains Pleun van Duijn, an aubergine grower and one of the project initiators.

The three growers – VOF Prominent Grevelingen (tomatoes), DT van Noord Tomaten B.V. (tomatoes) and Gebr. van Duijn (aubergines) – have united to form DES, which stands for Duurzaam Energie Sirjansland (Sustainable Energy Sirjansland). The companies have acquired various certificates from MPS-ECAS, including GLOBALG.A.P. and On the way to PlanetProof. These certification schemes let organisations consider how to make their production process more sustainable.

Aubergine grower Pleun van Duijn at the CO2 capture installation

100 tonnes of green waste
‘We started the plant with the aim of making our businesses more sustainable,’ explains Van Duijn. The three businesses began working together on sustainability issues a few years ago and have given consideration to a variety of different ideas. ‘We looked into using geothermal heat to generate energy, but the layers of the earth here aren’t porous enough for that. Biogas wasn’t an attractive option either, due to the fermentation of manure.’ When the vegetable growers attended a meeting organised by the municipality of Schouwen-Duiveland to examine how to make the island energy-neutral, they came into contact with foresters, campsite owners and other businesses that produce green and wood waste, and the idea to start a biomass plant was born. This would transform local green waste into sustainable energy for their greenhouses.

Wood chips are used as the basic material for heating the greenhouses and for producing the CO2 that the plants need to grow. In total the plant delivers 8 megawatts of heat, which is used to provide heating for 70% of the greenhouses. Producing that heat requires a substantial volume of wood chips, which are delivered daily by three trucks in the form of 100 tonnes of green waste. What remains after the wood chips are burnt is a pile of ashes. The aubergine grower would preferably use those ashes too, but notes that ‘farmers used to spread ashes on the soil, but aren’t allowed to do that anymore. We have taken samples though, so that we can investigate whether we can reuse the ashes.’

Storage shed containing wood chips and automatic crane system

Biomass plant with two CO2 spheres and heat buffers

Sustainable innovation
The smoke produced by the biomass plant is not dispersed into the air via a chimney, but is instead filtered and stored in two enormous spheres. Clean CO2 is then piped into the greenhouses, where it is mixed with air and encourages the growth of the plants. The project received a sustainable business grant to fund this innovation. ‘Each year the plant delivers a 12 million kg reduction in CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and saves 7 million m3 of gas,’ says Van Duijn. The project has cost around 9 million euros. ‘If everything goes to plan, we’ll recoup the cost of the system in 12 years.’

Further sustainability plans
Now that their biomass plant is up and running, the three growers are working on further sustainability plans. ‘The biomass plant needs energy, for instance to power its pumps. We’re going to generate this energy using solar panels. By the end of the year the roof of the plant room will be completely covered with 760 solar panels,’ the aubergine grower explains. In this way the three growers are completing the circle. ‘We’ve delivered something wonderful. All the local biomass is now being used to generate energy and heat our greenhouses.’

Sustainability central topic of Plantarium 2019

MPS was present again last week during the fair Plantarium, from 21-23 August 2019 in Boskoop. 'Green Fits All' was the slogan everything was centred around at this time.

Plantarium is the leading international tree nursery trade fair. Participants from 15 different countries and trade visitors from 48 countries underline the international nature of the fair and make Plantarium the leading wholesale market for tree nursery products in Europe.

MPS was present at Plantarium with a renewed fair stand to talk to growers about the latest developments in sustainability, innovative tools and certification in this field. Jasper van Diemen, coordinator the Netherlands MPS: “We notice that sustainability is a topical issue within this sector. Certification is looked at more and more as a tool and not as a goal to produce more sustainably and to lift business processes. to a higher level. We also notice a growing interest in our services from the tree nursery sector”.

Would you like to know more about certification, then please contact:
Jasper van Diemen, Commercial Coordinator the NetherlandsT +31 (0) 6 30 15 91 66EThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Jasper van Diemen (MPS) during Plantarium

Vacancies

Will you become our new collegue?
Check out our vacancies here and follow us on LinkedIn!

If you have any questions, please contact the MPS Service & Support team in the Netherlands: